Tibet as Zone of Peace Must for India’s Security: Dalai Lama

New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) Describing the “continuing topographic and cultural aggression of Tibet by China” as a very serious issue not only for people of the region but also for India’s security concerns, the Dalai Lama today urged New Delhi to help start a dialogue between Beijing and Tibetan leadership aimed at preserving the autonomy of the area.

“Our ultimate goal is to make Tibet a special zone of Ahimsa or non-violence,” the Dalai Lama said while inaugurating the Year of Tibet celebrations here today.

He said the region, which before 1950 was acting as a buffer between China and India, has its own special culture, religion and environment and their preservation was good for all including Indian and the Chinese people.

Before 1950 Tibet’s long border with India was very peaceful, but after Chinese occupation of the region, India has to keep a strong military presence on the border, the money spent on which could be well utilised for constructive projects in the country, the Dalai Lama said.

He, however, expressed satisfaction over the improvement in India’s relations with China and hoped the process of dialogue between them would continue. The Dalai Lama also said the Chinese society was undergoing a change in its outlook. “A renewed interest in Tibet’s cultural and spiritual heritage is very much evident now,” he said.

And this has been happening solely because of the truthful information that Chinese people have got from sources outside their country, he added.

He said at a time when China was showing interest in improving relations with India, support of the people of this country for the Tibetan cause would give a right message to the leaders in Beijing.

The Dalai Lama also said China was huge a country undergoing transformation with multiple problems and the present Chinese leadership was approaching these problems with great caution for a smooth transformation of the system, which was reasonable and understandable.